Surf Forecasts:
Kohala Lighthouse surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, ENE swell with 2,364 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kohala Lighthouse this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Kohala Lighthouse in the next 16 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kohala Lighthouse over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s get into it for the North Kohala area.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough run ahead. This stretch of coast has a good reef set-up at Kohala Lighthouse, but for the next 16 days, the wind is just not playing ball. We’ve got a solid window of poor conditions kicking off Thursday morning, 13 August, and it looks like it’s going to stay pretty frustrating for a long stretch. The first week is a write-off, honestly.
Thursday the 13th through Sunday the 16th is all blown out. Swell hangs around 5 ft to 7 ft from the ENE, but the wind is hammering it – fresh to strong cross-shore and cross-onshore breezes. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no wild anomalies, but you won’t care much because the surface is a mess. Saturday the 15th sees the biggest push of energy with 12 ft and 10 ft swells from the E, and the combined energy spikes into the thousands (2448 and 1648), but with a near gale cross-shore, that’s not paddle surfing – that’s kite territory or a full-on mission for experts only. Swell period is short around 8-10 seconds, so it’s choppy, wind-affected slop.
That Sunday afternoon the 16th is the closest we get to a silver lining. Swell drops to 8 ft from the ENE, combined energy at 790, and the wind eases to a moderate cross-shore breeze. Still not clean, but it’s the only session flagged as “marginal” rather than outright poor. Still, I wouldn’t get too excited.
From Monday the 17th all the way through to Thursday the 28th, we’re stuck in a rut. Swells range from 3 ft up to 8 ft, mostly from the ENE or E, but the wind never backs off. It’s a relentless stream of fresh cross-shore and cross-onshore conditions with lumpy, choppy seas. The combined energy is mostly in the low to moderate range (125 to 508), so there’s some juice, but it’s all messy. The break is inconsistent in terms of quality – it rarely comes together under these trades.
Honestly, there’s no standout session here. This is one of those blank runs where the North Kohala coast is just getting hammered by trade winds. If you’re a local, you know this pattern – it happens. Stay patient, check the forecasts, and hope the wind eases. For now, I’d say leave the boards in the rack.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Thu morning, gales from the ENE by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the E on Sun morning, moderate winds from the E by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 268 | 388 | 424 | 669 | 1020 | 2130 | 2187 | 1819 | 1616 | 829 | 639 | 365 | 390 | 305 | 257 | 133 | 237 | 172 | 179 | 146 | 142 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:57PM0.90m | 4:05AM0.58m | 4:24PM0.83m | 4:51AM0.61m | 4:48PM0.74m | 5:39AM0.63m | 5:07PM0.65m | 6:32AM0.63m | 5:18PM0.57m | 7:38AM0.63m | 5:07PM0.51m | 9:12AM0.63m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:04AM0.07m | 10:33PM0.17m | 9:48AM0.13m | 10:57PM0.15m | 10:31AM0.22m | 11:22PM0.15m | 11:17AM0.31m | 11:46PM0.15m | 12:09PM0.39m | 00:11AM0.16m | 1:29PM0.47m | 00:40AM0.18m | 1:22AM0.20m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 31 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 13 | ENE 8 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | NNE 7 | W 11 |
| kJ | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 763 | 26 | 11 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 30 | 25 | 11 | 22 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | N 9 | N 8 | NW 7 | SW 17 | SW 17 | W 14 | NNW 9 | N 9 | W 13 | SW 7 | SW 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | SW 17 | W 11 | N 7 | N 8 | W 12 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | N 8 | — | N 8 | W 14 | SW 16 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 14 | N 7 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 11 |
| kJ | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 268 | 388 | 424 | 669 | 1020 | 2130 | 2187 | 1819 | 1616 | 829 | 639 | 365 | 390 | 305 | 257 | 133 | 237 | 172 | 179 | 146 | 142 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 69 | 69 | 73 | 69 | 73 | 69 | 57 | 57 | 69 | 69 | 25 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 57 | 25 | 25 | 31 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kohala Lighthouse Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kohala Lighthouse provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kohala Lighthouse can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kohala Lighthouse surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Kohala Lighthouse) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Kohala Lighthouse may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Kohala Lighthouse is 87 km (54 miles) from Kihei. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kihei. Kihei has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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